U.S. stock-index futures point to lower open after Apple resultsU.S. stock-index futures late Tuesday implied a lower open for the markets Wednesday, after Apple Inc. fell in after-hours trade amid disappointment over its outlook, and after Microsoft Corp. posted its largest-ever quarterly loss. About 10 hours ahead of the start of New York trade, CBT eMini Nasdaq 100 futures suggested a 1.2% opening loss, while eMini Dow Jones Industrial Average and futures for the S&P 500 were down 0.4% each. The futures -- though they could move considerably ahead of the start of trade, especially after the European markets open -- were in line with midday weakness on the major Asian bourses, with Japan's Nikkei Average down 1.2% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index down 1%. On Tuesday, the Dow industrials ended 1% lower, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2%, and the S&P 500 lost 0.4%.

Australia stocks slouch, with BHP lower after output reportAustralian stocks rolled lower early Wednesday, tracking losses for U.S. shares and on other Asian markets, with earnings and output reports taking center stage. The S&P/ASX 200 sat 0.9% lower about 40 minutes into trade, with BHP Billiton Ltd. down 0.7% to slightly outperform the benchmark after posting better-than-expected iron-ore production for the first half but also warning of new impairment charges of up to $650 million. Shares of South32 Ltd. , recently spun off from BHP, fell 1.2% as the market weighed its quarterly output report and news he company was reviewing the fair value of its assets, according to Dow Jones Newswires. On the other hand, some iron-ore miners managed to extend gains, with Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. up 2% and Arrium Ltd. rising 1.9%. Elsewhere on the market, construction-materials company Boral Ltd. rose 2.3% on upbeat guidance for the fiscal year ended in June, and energy name Caltex Australia Ltd. lost 1.9% after Bell Potter downgraded the shares to hold from buy, despite lifting its price target.

Japan stocks drop after disappointing U.S. tech resultsJapanese stocks moved decisively lower in early Wednesday moves, with techs down sharply after disappointment over earnings results from some of the top U.S. players in the sector. The Nikkei Average and Topix were each 0.9% weaker about 10 minutes into trade, getting no help from a rising yen, as the dollar slipped back below the ¥124 handle to buy ¥123.86. Japanese electronic-component makers associated with Apple Inc. -- which posted an outlook that disappointed analysts and was notably mum on its smartwatch sales results -- underperformed the market, with Japan Display Inc. down 3.8%, and Murata Manufacturing Co. down 3.3%, while Alps Electric Co. fell 2%, and Renesas Electronics Corp. retreated by 1.8%. On the upside, however, Toshiba Corp. climbed 1.3% after news it had sold off its stake in Finnish elevator maker Kone Corp. , valued at close to $1 billion according to a Dow Jones Newswires report. Meanwhile, financial shares were also a weak spot for the market following sizeable losses on Wall Street overnight, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. down 2%, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. down 2.1% and Daiwa Securities Group Inc. down 1.2%.

Japan stocks rise, with Toshiba rallying on details of accounting mistakesJapanese stocks shuffled higher in their return from a three-day weekend, with techs rising amid continued softness for the yen (dollar at ¥124.31) and transports improving after deep losses for crude-oil futures. Both the Nikkei Average and Topix were each 0.5% higher about 20 minutes into the trading day. Blue-chip advancers included Hitachi Ltd. (up 1.2%), Sharp Corp. (up 1.8%), Casio Computer Co. (up 3.2%) and Fujitsu Ltd. (up 1.5%), though Sony Corp. eased 0.3% after recent gains. Shares of Toshiba Corp. outperformed after the company said an independent panel had put the overstatement of operating profit in 2008-14 at about $1.2 billion, apparently ending speculation on the size of the problem. Meanwhile, the retreat for oil prices since Tokyo last traded helped Japan Airlines Co. rise 2%, while shippers Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. and Nippon Yusen K.K. climbed 3.3% and 2.1%, respectively. Shares of Mitsubishi Materials Corp. were down 1.1%, as China's state media called on the company to issue a public apology for its alleged use of Chinese forced labor after the company made a similar apology to U.S. prisoners of war made to work in the company's mines during World War II.

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